Devan Nair

Birth Name: Devan Nair Chengara Veetil

Date of Birth: 5 August, 1923

Place of Birth: Melaka, Straits Settlements (now Malaysia)

Date of Death: December 6, 2005

Place of Death: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Ethnicity: Malayali Indian

Devan Nair was a Malaysian and Singaporean politician. He served as the third President of Singapore, from 23 October, 1981 to 28 March, 1985. He was also Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party of Malaysia, from 14 August, 1965 to 9 September, 1965, and Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party, from 11 October, 1965 to 30 July, 1967, among other duties.

His father, Illyatha Valyatha Karunakaran Nair, was an Indian-born rubber plantation clerk, from Thalassery, Kerala. His mother was Sri Devi. He was married to Avadai Dhanam, until her death, with whom he had four children.

Source: The International Who’s Who 2004 – Page 426